Editor's note: This story contains disturbing material.
CNN –
A former WWE employee has accused company founder Vince McMahon of sexual assault, human trafficking and physical abuse in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The new, disturbing allegations from Janel Grant, who worked at WWE headquarters, come more than a year after the conclusion of a special commission appointed by WWE to investigate McMahon's alleged misconduct as the company's chairman and CEO. McMahon stepped down from his role amid the investigation in July 2022, but has since returned as chairman of WWE's parent company.
In the lawsuit filed in Connecticut District Court, Grant alleged that McMahon promised a job – and subsequent promotions – with WWE in exchange for sex. Grant's lawsuit also includes allegations that McMahon negotiated with other men inside and outside the company, including John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who worked in the company's talent relations department and is also named as a defendant in the suit. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the lawsuit.
At the end of their employment and sexual relationship, McMahon allegedly pressured Grant into signing a nondisclosure agreement in exchange for payments totaling $3 million over several years, the lawsuit says.
In a statement, WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said McMahon does not control TKO or oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. Under McMahon's leadership, WWE and UFC, a mixed martial arts entertainment competitor, announced in April 2023 that they would be merging to form TKO.
“Although this matter predates our TKO leadership team's tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally,” a TKO spokesperson said.
In a statement to Deadline, a spokesperson for McMahon said the lawsuit was “filled with lies, obscene fabricated incidents that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”
“He will defend himself vigorously,” the spokesman said.
Attempts by CNN to reach John Laurinaitis did not elicit a response.
In a statement to CNN, Grant's attorney Ann Callis said Thursday's lawsuit seeks to hold accountable “two WWE executives who sexually abused and acted upon plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that enabled or facilitated the abuse.” “Turned a blind eye and then swept it under the carpet.”
“MS. Grant hopes her lawsuit will prevent other women from becoming victims. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon's depraved behavior and it is time for it to take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership,” added Callis added.
According to the lawsuit, Grant was introduced to McMahon in 2019 when she was looking for work.
Grant initially believed she was pursuing a professional relationship with McMahon, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon eventually pressured Grant into a physical relationship by making promises of “career-boosting and life-changing” things to her. After getting a job with WWE, McMahon allegedly subjected Grant to “extreme cruelty and degradation” that caused Grant to “distance himself from and/or become numb to reality in order to survive,” it is alleged in the lawsuit.
One disturbing incident described in the lawsuit describes an alleged sexual encounter between Grant, McMahon and a “friend” of McMahon in May 2020. During the encounter, McMahon allegedly lashed out at Grant and “ordered her to kill his 'friend.' “continue to bless her hair with feces,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit also detailed an alleged sexual assault between Grant, McMahon and Laurinaitis that occurred at WWE headquarters in 2021. The two men allegedly pulled Grant behind a locked door and forcibly tied her up. When she begged them to stop, one of the men allegedly told her: “No means yes.”
“MS. “Grant was exploited during her employment with WWE and was subjected to countless depraved and humiliating acts, resulting in severe and lasting trauma,” the lawsuit states.
The allegations outlined in Grant's lawsuit raise questions about a special committee investigation into McMahon's alleged misconduct in 2022.
The investigation, which reportedly began in April 2022, revolved around allegations that McMahon paid a secret $3 million severance package to a former employee with whom he had an affair, according to a previous Wall Street Journal report. The separation agreement, reached in January 2022, prevented the former employee, who was not named at the time, from “discussing her relationship with Mr. McMahon or disparaging him,” according to the Journal.
The investigation reportedly uncovered “other, older nondisclosure agreements involving claims by former WWE employees of misconduct by Mr. McMahon,” the Journal previously reported. Additional allegations of misconduct have reportedly been made against Laurinaitis.
The Journal reported in July 2022 that Vince McMahon paid more than $12 million to four women to cover up “allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.”
WWE said in June 2022 that it “takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously” and said it had retained independent legal services to assist in the review.
While Grant's lawsuit did not specifically mention that she was the former employee at the center of this investigation, it still affects not just McMahon, but the WWE organization as a whole.
Their lawsuit alleges that WWE knew about Grant's relationship with McMahon, but the company actively tried to hide any wrongdoing.
Grant also claims that the special committee tasked with investigating McMahon never interviewed her or requested any documents, even though Grant allegedly said she was willing to cooperate.
In March 2023, following the conclusion of the WWE Special Committee's investigation, WWE said McMahon would reimburse the company $17.4 million “for costs incurred and paid by the Company and/or its subsidiaries…in connection with this.” with and/or arising from the investigation carried out.” by a special committee.”
McMahon stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of WWE at the start of this investigation, but returned as chairman of TKO Group Holdings, WWE's parent company, in January 2023.
WWE has recently struck lucrative business partnerships.
In September, WWE officially merged with part of Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel's Endeavor Group, UFC's parent company, to form TKO. The deal valued the newly combined company at over $21 billion, with WWE shareholders owning 49% of the combined company. McMahon was WWE's largest shareholder.
Earlier this week, TKO made two major announcements.
The first was that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a former WWE wrestler himself, would be joining TKO’s board of directors.
McMahon touted the partnership in a statement on Tuesday. “Very few people on the planet understand the convergence of sports, entertainment, media and business as well as Rock,” he said.
As part of the deal, the company will pay Johnson $30 million in stock bonuses to promote the brand.
This week, Netflix also announced that it will become the exclusive home of “WWE Raw” starting in January 2025. The 10-year contract is worth more than $5 billion, according to a filing from TKO.
Neither Netflix nor representatives for Johnson immediately responded to CNN's request for comment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the agency representing McMahon.